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LGBTQ + people experience protective benefits from faith community participation, although some also experience minority stress from rejection and discrimination. Social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and others can assist LGBTQ + people in looking for a faith community that fits their needs and desires. This study reveals how LGBTQ + people in this sample, most of whom identify as Christians, decided to attend their current faith community through an analysis methodology called Sort and Sift Think and Shift. Four contrasting themes were identified: welcoming versus inclusive, racial/ethnic versus LGBTQ+, inward versus outward, and role modeling versus blending. The authors explore the implications of these themes for helping professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research with youth has demonstrated that a hopeful mind-set is associated with resilience and well-being and is influenced by our supportive caregivers and adults. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth experience a very high frequency of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and may lack supportive caregivers throughout their foster care experience. This study tests the theory that child welfare caseworkers are a source of hope among LGB youth in foster care. Quantitative analysis was used to examine differences in ACE exposure and differences in the caseworker as a source of hope. LGB youth with eight or more ACEs have a significant positive association with hope in their caseworkers than non-LGB youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, social welfare policy skills are essential, considering that social workers are often embedded in institutions where policy regulates practice. As such, social policy instructors must engage students in the development of policy-related skills, including, development, implementation, and evaluation. Engaging students in policy skill develop presents challenges detailed within. In the United States, political culture theory (PCT) is a useful framework for educators to use for developing students understanding of federal social welfare policy implementation among the 50 states. Applications of PCT are not limited to the US however; as it has demonstrated to be adaptable to contexts social workers are engaged in across the globe. The PCT typology focuses on three types of political culture: individualistic, traditionalist and moralistic, and the implications of these frames on policy implementation. The political culture scavenger hunt, detailed within, is a classroom activity derived from PCT for instructors to use to explore the implementation of social welfare policy. Adaptions of the activity for use in international contexts are included, with recommendations and reflections on the social work pedagogy serving as the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines students' negative experiences in field placement related to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, examining areas of conflict and emotional responses to conflicts. Using a subset of data gathered as part of a larger survey of 1,018 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) undergraduate and graduate social work students in the United States and Canada, an analysis is conducted on qualitative responses (N=207) to a question about conflict in the field. The authors identified six LGBTQ-related conflict themes: managing disclosure, unsupportive agency atmosphere, handling others' discomfort, dealing with discriminatory attitudes and behaviors, bad practice with LGBTQ clients, and challenges found within an LGBTQ-serving agency. Forty student responses discussed feelings of fear, sadness, discomfort, and shame. Implications for field education with LGBTQ social work students are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child welfare training programs for new employees strive to develop and implement competency-based training approaches. The authors of this article describe the development and validation of a rubric to measure the readiness of new child welfare workers for client engagement and interviewing. The rubric was designed to measure key competencies, based on a review of the literature, including rapport-building, communication and information gathering; and critical safety assessment. The rubric was designed for use with social simulation training, where participants are observed as they simulate skill demonstration toward mastery of competencies. Analysis of both adult and child rubrics revealed good validity and high inter-rater reliability, highlighting their value for the evaluation of new child welfare worker readiness based on key competencies necessary for effective practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides historical and contemporary perspectives on female sexual offending behavior, divided into three sections. The first section provides background context including incidence, prevalence, and mediating factors in female sex offender (FSO) behavior. The second section overviews the evolution of theories used for understanding the etiology of FSO behaviors including psychodynamic, behaviorist, and trauma-informed perspectives. This discussion includes each theory’s background, key concepts, and application to understanding FSO behavior. The final section focuses on lessons learned from this analysis of theoretical thought on FSO etiology and the state of FSO etiology science today. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article overviews a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) study with a sample population consisting of 470 Hispanic/Latino persons living with HIV/AIDS who received primary HIV/AIDS medical services from one of five HRSA Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Border Health demonstration projects. The study purpose was to identify multilevel barriers that affect delayed entry into HIV/AIDS medical care among Hispanic/Latino persons living along the U.S.–Mexico border. Multilevel variables along individual, community/cultural, and structural/systems were assessed relative to delayed care entry. The results of this examination indicate that individual and structural/system-level variables affect delayed care entry, whereas support was not found for community/cultural-level barriers. Study findings inform treatment engagement strategies aimed to decrease HIV disease progression by bringing Hispanic/Latinos into care sooner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV prevention exhaustion has occurred among MSM, with resurgence of HIV beginning in 2000 a palpable effect. A stratified snowball sample was recruited from MSM social venues including gay bars, parks, and social service agencies in order to develop targets and strategies for future prevention efforts. Three methods of data collection were used: (a) individual interviews (n = 30), (b) focus groups (total n = 64), and (c) demographic survey (n = 94). Study results found support for several education topics, substance abuse intervention, and development of MSM interpersonal skills. The article concludes with a discussion of cultural and contextual strategies to curb rising HIV cases among MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative rapid ethnographic study identifies, describes and classifies the impact of sociostructural domains and their factors on men who have sex with men (MSM) HIV transmission risk. Included are the perceptions of HIV risk by four MSM subgroups: HIV positive, Latino, black, and young (aged 18 to 24). Results classify participant-perceived MSM transmission factors into sociostructural domains (e.g., social, health, economic, political, and mental health). Included in the article is a discussion of domain factors perceived as suitable for systemic intervention including addressing social stigma and discrimination, promoting MSM health and sexual health, and preventing and treating substance use. A review of study limitations and recommendations for future research conclude this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative methods aid in classifying and assessing cultural and environmental factors and their effect on HIV transmission risk behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). The present study includes the perspectives of four MSM subgroups (HIV positive MSM, Latino MSM, Black MSM, and MSM between ages 18 and 24) obtained through ethnographic interviews, focus groups, and a sociodemographic survey. Study findings based upon a cross-case analysis of these interviews point to cultural norms such as limited sexual negotiation and substance use as influencing MSM HIV transmission risk. In addition, MSM environments for seeking sexual partners (gay bars, bathhouses, the Internet) contribute to risk in setting-specific ways. The rich information provided by the MSM point to suitable recommendations for systemic intervention including increasing substance use prevention efforts among MSM, development of interpersonal and sexual negotiation skills, chiefly among young MSM, and the importance of MSM environments for improving HIV prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]